Friday, December 30, 2011

The Holiness of God

Several years ago I was told I should read R.C. Sproul's The Holiness of God. I finally got around to it this year in preparation for a sermon, "The Gospel and the Holiness of God." During my time reading this book I was floored by the reality of God's holiness. In fact, when I went to preach the sermon I felt completely inadequate in trying to explain God's holiness to my congregation. This is a book, and subject, that one must study for themselves. I truly believe having a better understanding of God's holiness will lead to a better understanding of man's sinfulness. And a better understanding of man's sinfulness (particularly your own sinfulness) will lead to a better understanding of God's grace found in the cross of Jesus Christ. I highly, highly recommend you read The Holiness of God.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas Weekend Sermons

This year I preached a Christmas Eve Sermon on John 1:14 and a Christmas morning sermon on Isaiah 9:1-7. Obviously they both focused on the birth of Christ. I knew we'd have some visitors this weekend, but I didn't realize we would have as many as we did. It was my hope that the gospel would be clearly proclaimed and heard by those who were there. You can listen to both sermons (and many others) here if you'd like. I pray the gospel seed takes roots in many hearts and transforms them so that they believe on the Lord for salvation.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas Eve Sermon

Last night Cypress Lake Baptist Church gathered together for our Christmas Eve Service. We tried to make it a big deal this year and invite as many people as we could. I have no idea how many we had come for the service, but I do know there were a lot of visitors (there always is on Christmas Eve). With that being said, my sermon was from John 1:14. My main goals in the sermon were to clearly present the good news of Jesus Christ for unbelievers to, I pray, repent and believe and to help raise the affections of those who were already Christ followers. If you're interested, you can listen to the sermon here.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Wonderful Grace

From Philip Ryken:
I. Howard Marshall offers the following paraphrase of Luke 12:50, "How I am totally governed by this until it be finally accomplished." What a joy it is for us to see our Savior say this on his way to the cross! Jesus was going there to suffer for our sins, to die in our place, and he would not rest until the job was done. This was the governing ambition of his life and ministry. With his heart set on accomplishing the great work of our salvation, he pressed relentlessly towards his baptism of the cross. Apart from this willing sacrifice, we could never be saved.
Luke 12:50 says, "I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished."

What is really great about this is the fact that Jesus let us know exactly when it was accomplished when He cried out, "It is finished." (John 19:30)

This, my friends, is wonderful, marvelous grace.